Method and apparatus for controlling cooling of packages



METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING COOLING OF PACKAGES Filed Jan. 8, 1920 halved/woz @EUR/GIE W. lLlUHlltllllflll', UJF-JERSEY lGll'llY,

GLUSURE CURlURMlllIUhT, F EROKLYN, NEW YORK, all. CURPUTJEUN Uli' lillElll WUR.

application med January rlhis invention relates broadly to preserving, and pertains particularly to certain in1- provements in apparatus and an improved method suitable to be utilized in the process ing ot' sealed packages with heat. 5 As is well known in the art, it is customary in the packing ol various perishable commodities, such as food-studs, to package the material in containers, and then subject the packages thus formed to a heat treatment for the purpose of cooking the material, or completing the cooking of partially cooked material, or for sterilizing the contents and packages. 'lhis processing is ordinarily carried on with apparatus in the nature of a retort or autoclave in which the packages are confined for the heatin treatment and retained under an induced tllilid pressure 4tor the purpose oi equalizing or counteracting internal pressures induced by the processing,

3U and which would otherwise producedefective packages. ln order to operate eiliciently, it is necessary that the packages, at theend ot the heat treatment, be cooled by means other than the ordinary radiation in the atmosphere, and that such cooling operation be effected as rapidly as possible in order to permit reuse of the reto-rt for another batch or lot ot packages.

llly present invention pertains particularly to apparatus and a method for edecting the cooling operation. A

lln the use ot containers ot frangible material, such as glass vessels, lor packing lood stullls, proper regulation ot the cooling oplf eration must be had in order to prevent e@ @ne purpose of my` present invention is 4 breakage ol the containers by a too sudden or too extreme change ol temperature, as by application of the cooling lluid at too low a temperature.

to provide a method and apparatus whereby the cooling operatlpn in the processing ot packages in lrangible contaluers may be NEW JERSEY, ASSlEGNUR TO i il, lllll. Serial llo. 350,239.

greatly expedited, may be carried on with certainty and safety, and whereby the' application or' cooling fluid at too great a diil'en ence in temperature from the packages may be inhibited.

il further object of my invention is the provision o'i an improved apparatus for attemperating cooling Huid during the cooling operation.

A further object of my invention is the provision of amethod o' cooling packages having trangible containers, and an apparatus for practicing the same, which method and apparatus provide for a continuous operation whereby cooling lluid at constantly decreasing temperature may be applied continuously tothe packages while they are retained under an equalizing pressure.

Uther and further objects oit my invention will be obvious or pointed out hereinafter, or indicated in the accompanying claims, and in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification. ln the drawings is illustrated a form in which an apparatus comprising my invention may/be embodied, and by which the method comprising my invention may be practiced. lt will be understood, however, that my improved method is not limited in its .practice to any particular form of apparatus, and that the torm, arrangement and details ot the device illustrated may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope oil the appended claims in which it is defined.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a diagrammatic illustration of a processing retort in sectional elevation, toe gether with certain appertinent apparatus including an illustrative form ol my invention, shown partly in, section.

Figure 2 illustrates a modiiied and sim lif lied form ol device in which my invention may be embodied, and by which my improved method may be practiced.

Described generally, the method constituting my invention comprises the modifying ot a cooling tluid with heat so as to attemperate the duid to form a cooling medium, and applying the cooling mediumgin the lorm ot a moving body or column ont liquid, to the articles to be cooled, meanwhile graduating the temperature of the coolingmedium supplied, so that it is progressively cooler lllh and is effective to displace the preceding warmer cooling medium from about the articles.

Described generally, any apparatus embodying my invention includes a retort or pressure sustaining receptacle in which the packages are processed, together with means for comminglmg heating and cooling fluids before introduction into the retort, and including means for regulating the supply of said fluids independently, togetherk with an arrangement for supplying the cooling medium into the retortand withdrawing it from the` retort in such fashion as to produce a continuous flow of the cooling medium of gradually decreasing temperature about the packages therein.

The invention may be more specifically understood by reference to the accompany- .ing drawings, in which the reference character 1 is applied to designate a retort, which may be of any suitable form for the reception of the intended packages, said retort being closed by a suitableclosure 2, here rep resented in the form of a door. The retort is adapted for the reception of packages C which may be placed and sustained in the retort in any suitable fashion, as by means of the charging basket 4. It is contemplated that the retort shall be properly equipped to accomplish the intended treatment of the packages therein with heat forthe desired purpose. This maybe effected through any suitable means, 5, by way ofwhich the proper equalizing pressure also may be maintained within the retort.

From a source of supply of a suitable cooling medium, such as cold water, a conduit 6 leads to a modifying device 7, to which device leads also a connection 8 from a source `of heat supply. In the particular embodiment herein shown, connection 8 is in the form of a steam pipe such as would be effective to conduct steam from a suitable boiler. The feed of cooling fluid to the de- Vice 7 is controlled by suitable means 9, and the supply of heat to the device 7 is oontrolled by suitable means 10. In the present embodiment the modifying device- 7 is in the nature of a suction connection wherein the steam under pressure and the water under pressure are brought into contact so that there will be an exchange of heat between them to raise the temperature of the water to the desired point. Through the proper operation of the controlling means 9 and 10, the necessary control is exercised upon the cooling fluid and the heat to produce a cooling medium of the desired temperature. In communication with themodi tying device 7 is an inlet pipe 11 by which the cooling medium may be conducted into the retort, and a discharge pipe 12 by which the cooling medium may be conducted to another point of disposal. Suitable means 14 is provided for the control of these conduits.v A thermically operated device 13, including the indicator 15, is disposed in the connection through which the cooling medium is conducted from the modifying de vice 7. The arrangement as thus organized constitutes an attemperating apparatus whereby the temperature of the cooling fluid may be raised to a degree which may be applied with safety to the frangible containers of hot packages in the retort, ln accomplishing this the means 14 is first set so that communication through the inlet pipe 11 is closed, and communication through the discharge pipe 12 is opened. By suitable ad justment of the controlling` devices 9 and 10 avsupply of heat and of cooling fluid in proper proportion is secured, the mixture being allowed to discharge through the pipe 12 until the proper temperature is shown in the indicator 15. Upon the proper temperature being reached, as ascertained from the indicator 15, the means 14 is set to open communication through the inlet pipe 11, and close communication through the discharge pipe 12, thereby introducing the cooling medium into the retort.

In order to secure a. thorough and uniform commingling of a heating fluid such as steam with a cooling fluid such as water, 7

to produce the desired cooling medium, it may be desirable to insert a mixing device 17 into the atteniperating apparatus. This mixing device may be incorporated as a part of the modifying device 7. In the embodiment illustrated I have shown it associated with the modifying device in such relationship that the steam and water discharged from the device 7 are thrown first upon a baffle 18 which is in the form of a cone and which diffuses the fluids and dcflects them against the reentrant conical or funnel shaped baille 19. From the smaller or discharge end of this baffle the fluids are dil:- charged onto a second conical baffle 20 and by it diffused on to another reentrant baflle 21. The miXer may be equipped with as many of these baffle arrangements as may be desired. The result of the passage of the fluids through this device is to bring the heating and cooling fluids into more intimate Contact so that they are more uniformly and `thoroughly commingled before introduction int-o the retort. It is obvious that other forms of mixing apparatus may be employed. the essential feature thereof being the capacity of the device Afor a. continuous operation so that the proper attem-` perating of the cooling Huid may be carried on during its movement to the retort. Moreover, the thermically operated device 13 may be arranged to exercise an automatic control upon the attemperating operation. This may be accomplished by means of apparatus in the nature of a motor valve 22 arranged ratsam to control either or both the heat and the cooling Huid so that the supply of the two may be held in proper proportions always to maintain the desired temperature of the cooling medium. Such therinically operated motor valves are well known in the art, and are arranged so that they may be set to operate between predetermined maximum and minimum temperature limits., 'lhe device 22 being set for the predetermined makimum and minimum temperatures, any variation of the cooling medium at the device i3 outside of this predetermined range will occasion an operation of the device 22 to properly adjust the proportion of heating and cooling fluids to restore the desired temperature. 'lhe cooling medium introduced into the retort from the apparatus above described is conduct/ed away from the retort by means of an outlet pipe 24k 'lhis pipe is controlled bv a suitable tlow regulating means 25 so that the rate of discharge from the retort may be suitably regulated and varied. Y

ln the carrying out the cooling process by means of the apparatus above described, it

will be understood that the proper temperatureof the cooling medium for the initial application to the heated packages having been obtained by the proper adjustment of the means 9 and l0, such cooling medium is introduced into the retort through the pipe ll, where it comes into contact with the packages, absorbing heat from them and thereby reducing their temperatures. rllhe retort may be entirely filled with the cooling medium introduced at the initial temperature, if desired, and said charge of the cooling medium permitted to remain therein for a sufcient time to permit the desired exchange of heat between the hot packages and the cooling medium; or the temperature of the cooling medium may be reduced at intervals by suitable adjustment of the means 9 and 10 before the retort is entirely filled with fluid introduced at the initial temperature,l so that a continuous dow of cooling medium may be maintained, and the packages in the retort subjected to the influence of successive zones or quantities thereof at progressingly lower temperatures. lin the event the first' procedure specified is followed, upon the initial charge of cooling medium having been allowed to remain in the retort for the desired length of time, it then may be gradually displaced by the introduction of another charge of cooling medium at lower temperature, and this procedure repeated until the packages have been cooled to the desired degree. The desired variation in temperature of the cooling medium may be attained periodically by adjustment of the means 9 and l0; and in the event the automatic temperature control means 13 and 22 are employed, by the periodic resetting of the temperature range of the latter. rll`he flow control device 25 may be susceptible of suitable operation to maintain the desired degree of Huid pressure upon the packages within the retort during the cooling operation, and to regulate the rate of discharge of cooling medium from the retort.

Employment of the method of cooling above described permits the necessary reduction in temperature of the packages in a minimum time with entire safety to the frangib-le containers, and requires the employment of a minimum quantity of cooling medium.

'lhe application of the cooling medium to the packages is made in such fashion that the portions of the fluid having diderent temperatures are allowed to remain always in their natural physical relationship so that there is not such a commingling of the entering cooling medium and warmer fluid within the retort as would tend to lower the cooling efticacy of the former. 'llhis method takes advantage of the physical phenomenon that heat exchange is most rapidly accomplished between matter having the greatest difference in temperature, and insures lthe application of the coldest cooling fluid to the coolest packages before siich cooling medium has been subjected to the heat induence of the warmer Huid within the retort. @wing to the fact that the space within the retort is so largely occupied by the packages either when they are stacked therein, or when they are disposed in a charging cage, there will be no direct path or channel of flow between the inlet and outlet such as would tend to produce side eddies or mixing of the successively applied zones or strata -of cooling medium. rlhis method, therefore, accomplishes a progressive cooling of the packages while maintaining the `greatest practicable difference in temperature `between them and the cooling medium. ySaid cooling of the packages is progressive not only as to each particular package, but also as to the charge or lot of packages within the retort, diie to the increasing tem erature of cooling medium in the di erent Zones from the inlet to the discharge.`

By virtue of the apparatus above described my method may be put in practice economically and eiciently both as to cost of installation of the apparatus itself, and as to cost of operation thereof. The apparatus is designed with the idea of making it as simple as possible so that it may be operated with certainty without requiring a high degree of skill or term of experience.

. limi Having thus described my invention, what l claim is: l v

l. The method of cooling sealed packages having frangible containers, which includes maintaining the packages under an equalizllt@ ing pressure, supplying a cooling fluid, attemperating the cooling fluid wit reference to the temperaturel of the packages to provide a cooling medium, applying successive quantities of the cooling medium at successively reduced temperatures to packages disposed in successive zones, and withdrawing the cooling medium from the zone of highest temperature.

2. The method of cooling packages, which includes supplying a cooling fluid, attemperating the cooling fluid with reference to the temperature of the packages to provide a cooling medium, successively applying to the packages quantities of the cooling medium arranged in strata of progressively lower temperatures and withdrawing the cooling medium from the stratum of highest temperature.

3. The process of cooling sealed packages comprising attemperating a cooling fluid with reference to the temperature of the packages to provide quantities of a cooling medium successively at lower temperatures, moving said quantities of cooling medium successively onto the packages so that each of said quantities is effective to displace preceding quantities in the direction of move- .ment of the cooling medium, withdrawingthe cooling medium after it has moved beyond the packages, and maintainin the packages meanwhile under an equa izing pressure.

4. The method of cooling packages, comprising disposing the packages in a group, commingling a heating fluid and a cooling fluid to produce a cooling medium, applying said cooling medium continuously to the packages in quantities arranged in strata of progressively lower temperatures by displacing preceding quantities with succeeding quantities, and withdrawing the cooling medium after its movement across' the group of packages.

5. The process of cooling packages comprising maintaining a group of packages within a receptacle, commingling a heating fluid and a coolin fluid exterior of the receptacle to provi e a cooling medium, in-

troducing quantities of said cooling medium. into the lower portion. of the receptacle forming temperature zones in said receptacle at progressively reduced temperatures, occasioning by said introduction of cooling medium displacement of preceding quantities by succeeding quantities and the movement of the cooling medium across the group of packages, whereby the packages in said group are subjected to successive zones of progressively lower temperatures, and withdrawing the cooling medium from the upper portion of the receptacle.

6. In a preserving apparatus, the combination of a retort for the reception of packages, cooling agent supply means, heating agent supply means, an attempei'ating apparatus operable continuously to associate a cooling agent and a heating agent from said supply means to provide a cooling medium, a discharge pipe alfording an outlet for fluid from the attexnperating apparatus to thereby permit a precise regulation on the temperature of the cooling medium prior to its entrance to the retort, a thermal-indicating device responsive to changes in temperature of the cooling medium so provided, means for conducting cooling medium from said attemperating apparatus into the retort at the lower portion thereof, and means permitting the continuous withdrawal of cooling medium from said retort at the upper portion thereof.

7. In an apparatus for preserving, the combination of a retort for the'reception of packages, steam supply means, Water supply means, an attemperating device for' commingling steam and water from said supply means to produce a cooling medium, means for regulatin the supply of steam and water respective y, a thermically operated device :Eor indicating the temperature of the cooling medium, a discharge pipe affording an outlet for fluid from the attemperating device independent of said retort, an inlet pipe for conducting cooling medium from the attemperating device into the lower portion of the retort, means for controlling flow from the attemperating device through said pipes respectively, and means for conducting fluid from the upper portion of the retort.

' GEORGE W. LUHRMANN. 

